Broadcast Owners Urge FCC to Remove National Ownership Cap Amid Streaming Pressure

Major television broadcasters and their trade groups, including the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), are vigorously lobbying the FCC to eliminate or relax the longstanding 39% national ownership cap, arguing it is outdated and threatens the survival of over-the-air (OTA) broadcasting amid rising competition from streaming giants like Netflix, YouTube, and Amazon. Broadcasters highlight that streaming services have captured nearly half of total television viewing time, while broadcast TV has fallen below 20%, and digital advertising revenue is shifting away from local TV, pressuring traditional broadcasters financially and technologically. The NAB has characterized the ownership cap as an emergency for TV broadcasting, emphasizing that outdated broadcast technology and restrictive ownership rules hinder broadcasters' ability to compete effectively. Meanwhile, the Free State Foundation, a right-of-center think tank, supports revisiting the regulatory framework but cautions against asymmetric deregulation that could distort competition between broadcasters and other multichannel video programming distributors. The debate reflects a broader industry struggle to adapt to the evolving media landscape where unregulated tech platforms dominate, prompting broadcasters to seek consolidation and regulatory relief to remain viable. Additionally, changes in sports broadcasting illustrate how teams and local broadcasters are innovating with direct-to-consumer streaming and OTA partnerships to engage fans, underscoring the dynamic shifts in local content delivery.